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$.1- BRANSGN AND E. C. STRATHMANN.

FALSEWOBK FOR CONGRHE FLOORS.

APPLICAUDN FILED ocT. l3. was.

1,314,567. Patented Sept. 2, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I FIG-.3- 2? r 22+- 20 M11385: k "MENTOR fl w -JM w mmassss; if?" "L-guun s.1. BRANSON AND E. 0. Maximum. 7 HLSEWORK Fpa concam rmelis;

APPHCATEON HLED GCT- 3| 1916.

PatenteeiSept. 2, 1919.

warms V Mueufl" mm S. i. BRANSON AND E. G. STRATHMANN.

FALSEWOBK ron concurs moons.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-13.1916.

PatentedSept. 2, 1919 r 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4 F-na.

INVENTORS I'TTOHNEY 1. BRANSON AND E. c. SYRATHMANN.

FALSEWDRK ran 00:40am moss.

PatentodSopt. 2, 1919.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 3. H15.

5 SHEETS-MEET 5.

UNITED STATE$ PATEN T OFFICE.

SAMUEL J. BRANSON AND EDWARD C. STRATHMANN, 0F INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA,ASSIGNORS TO THE CONCRETE FORMS COMPANY, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, A

dOBPOBATION OF INDIANA.

FALSEWl'JRK FOR CONCRETE FLOORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 2, 1919.

Application filed October 13, 1916. Serial No. 125,352.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, SAMUEL J. BRANSON and Eowann (I. STRATHMANN,citizens of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the countyof Marion and State of Indiana, have invented a, new and useful Falseorig for Concrete Floors, of which thefl'lh'owing; is n specification.

It is the object of our invention to frovidc, for the construction ofconcrete door slabs, a falsework structure which shall be inexpensive inconstruction as well as in in stallation and removal, can be built onthe ground of ordinary lumber, can be put up and removed with e minimumof labor, can

-be re-useil as often as desired, is automatically given the properspacing when set up, produces the most economical distribution ofconcrete, and eliminates the use of expensive fillers of clay tile,steel tile, or gypsum blocks, which are used between joists in othermethods of construction.

This application has certain subject-matter in common with our(lo-pending appli cation Ser. No. 115,594, filed August 18, 1916, ofwhich prior application this application is In part a continuation. Theclaims covering the subject'matter common to the two applications arepresented in this application.

The accompanying drawingsillustrate our invention. Fi we 1 is anenlarged horizontal partial section through a false work embodying ourinvention, showing the attachment for the forms at the ends of thejoists; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1, showing in dottedlines the end piece before it is lowered in place; Fig. 3 isa sectionalview through a bench on which the adjacent L-shaped members for adjacentjoists are fastened together to form a constructional unit; Fig. =1 is asectional view showing the construction of sheet metal instead of wood;Fig. 5 is a view showing the L-shaped members was inclined upri hts;Fig. 6 is a view showiug a form oi our falsework which is axeruble'd andheld toget-her in proper opened relation without nails so that it can}be most easily put up and taken down; and Fig. 7 is a. view similar'toFig. 6, but is taken from another an- .gle, so that it shows in a.single View the forms f r the girders, the joists, nd the floor slas,together with the end'constructween oints.

In the construction of concrete floors in buildingzs, there is usually aflat floor slab l which is crossed on its under side by tion for iormingthe girderside faces be- 56 parallel joists 1]. extending in one direc-60 rest on a smaller number or girders 12 or masonry a directiontransverse to The girders are heavier than the tion, which joists ofparallel beams walls extending in the joists.

oists, and are usually constructed of steel I-beams which may or may notbe embedded in concrete or of concrete with the usual embeddedreinforcing steel rods. The joists are usually of concrete, integralwith the floor slab. and are also'convenicntly provided with suitablereinforcing rods 14. Frequently the girders are provided with an.enlarged upper portion so as to produce a. T-shaped cross section.

Heretofore, in constructing floors of this ordinarily been supported ona, complete false floor. and something in addition to such tile orblocks has been used to furnish forms for the under faces of the joists.Moreover, skilled labor has ordinarily been required for, whichconstitute the forms for the bottom of the floor slab and the sides ofthe joists. for the tiles must be placed in parallel rows withconsiderable accuracy.

We do awev false floor, and for the necessity of care in placing theforms on such false floor. so that the readily and meta has been pouredin the forms and herdened, without destroying the forms, so that canre'wdily be put in place, and" thev can beused again.

which. extend longitudinally p0sed ,-joists and are in cross section, asclearfrom Fig. 5, theidems or upi f th se L'ihfmfld members being Thesetiles have in 80 placing the tiles or blocks with the necessity for thisor the great,-

In addition, we construct our forms. 7

easily be removed after the con" 10c formed of wooden planks set ed'ewise and being either vertical as shown in igs. 6 and 7 or slightlyinclined as shown in Fig. 5. The use of inclined upright portions inthese L-shaped members to some extent facilitates removal of the formsafter the completion of the floor, and also provides for additionalconcrete at the to of the joists, where the concrete is sometimesdesired to lake the compression stresses, but the vertical upright.portions give the most economical distribution of concrete. TheseL-shaped ,members are alternately oppositely placed, in spaced pairswith the free edges of the horizontal portions 21 of each pair abuttingto form a sofiit, but not bein connected. The form for the bottom andsides of a joist is produced by this mating of such two members andiii-addition the vertical portions of such members 20 take the place ofthe temporary joists ordinarily used for supporting the false floor onwhich the tile or blocks and the deposited concrete rest. The properdistance between adjacent joists is obtained by spacing apart adjacentpairs of members 20. For this purpose, the outer faces of the uprightsof the L-shaped members are provided with vertical cleats 22 nailedthereto, and corresponding cleats on adjacent L-shaped members ofadjacent pairs are connected by edgewise spacing members 23,conveniently fastened to the cleats 22 by nails 24 which are not drivencompletely home, so that they may easily be removed when dismantling theforms. The two adjacent L-shaped members 2:2 of two adjacent pairs andtheir connecting spacing members form a unit of construction, whichwithout requiring particular skill can b placed in position and ubuttedagainst similar units to produce parallelism.

To form thesiconstructioiml units, a bench :8 (Fig. 3) is provided, suchbench having spacing blocks 26, 27, and 28 between which are spaces intowhich the L- shapcd members 20 may be placed, with the cleats 22 alreadvon them. These spacing blocks 20. 27, and 28 properly space the lowerparts of the members 20, while'a loose spacing strip 21) spaces theirupper parts. With the L-shnpcd members thus properly spaced, the spacingmembers 23 are nailed to the cleats 22, to produce the constructionalunit.

The constructional units composed of two oppositely placed L-shnpcdmembers 20 and their connecting spacing members 23 furnish supports fortop pieces 30,which are of proper width to fit between the uprights ofsuch L-shaped members, as, clear from Fi s. 6 and 7. andconveniently-rest on either t e cleats 22 or the connecting spacingmembers 23. Preferably the top pieces are not fastened to p theconstructional units, as thereby dismantling is facilitated; thpughL-shaped with the inclined upright portitn'is shown in Fig. 5 the formsmay be removed without collapsing, so that the top pieces may bepermanently fastened to such constructional units. lho parts on whichsuch top pieces rest are properly spaced from theyupper edges of theuprights of the L-shapcd memhers so that the upper faces of such toppieces 30 are flush with the upper edges of such uprights. The top piece30 is shown as composed of a number of planks, connectcd by cleats 31 towhich they are nailed. The edges of such top pieces are lfeveleddownwardly, so that when the forms are dismantled the lower edges ofsuch top ieces do not interfere with swinging the L-.* aped members 20away from the joists 11 to so in.- rate the forms from the concrete. Tis swinging in of the L-shaped members 20 can easily be accomplished byfirst removing the nails 24, thereby permitting the spacing coir ncctingmembers 23 to drop out. The con structionul units with their associatedtop pier-cs comprise mating forms which are readily put together.

The cmistructional units composed of the L-shapcd members 520 with theirconnecting spacing members 23 rest on any suitable number of spacedtransversely extending members, for each row of units there are acentral edgewise supporting member 35 supported by a suitable framework36 and two end cdgewise supporting members 37 Sup ported by theframework structures 38 which carry the forms 3 for the joists 12. Thespace between any two adjacent supporting members 35 and 37 ismaterially greater than the height of the vertical portions of the L-shnpcd members 20, so that there is made effective the beam action ofsuch members, more particularly of the vertical portions of suchmembers. which by reason of being cdgewise are very rigid againstvertical bending. This rigidity of the vertical portions is transmittedto the horizontal portions 21 by reason of the rigid connection betweensuch vertical and horizontal portions. As a result, the verticalportions of the L'shaped members act both as forms for the concretejoists and as supporting beams for'the horizontal portions 21 and forthe concrete which is placed thereon to form the concrete joists. aresufficiently strong against vertical bending that they areself-supporting between the spaced supports 35 and 37. and are alsosufficiently strong to carry the load, not only of their own weight andof the top pieces 30,. but. of the entire floor slab 10 and joists 11with their embedded rods 14.

The ends 40 of the upright portions of the members 20 and the ends 41 ofthe top pieces 30 are beveled as shownin Figs.

h bees my the. concrete than on The L-shaped. members. 20

those toward ,the concrete; and these beveled ends coiiperate withflanges 42 and 43 at the edges of and on the face away from the concreteof end members 44, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, constituting the forms forthe verticat faces of the girders between joists. These 'end .membersare slid vertically in place, from the dotted'line position to the fullline position shown in Fig. 2, after the remainder of the false-work hasbeen erected. in order to lock these end members 44 in place, theirfaces away from the concrete may be providedwith guide plates 45 whichcooperate with flanged guide plates 46 carried by the cleats 22 and 31,the locking flanges of the guide piates 46 projecting toward theconcrete so as, to permit such plates and their associated parts tobe'moved away from the concrete for dismantling the remainder of theforms while the end memhers 44 are still in place.

In operation, the framework structures 36 and 38 are set up, with thegirder forms 39 and the supporting members 35 and "37 in place thereon.Then the constructional units, each composed of two spaced oppositelyplaced L-shaped members with their con necting spacing members 23, aresuccessively placed on the supporting members 35 and 37, transverselythereof, adjacent construction units abutting by the engagement of thefree edges of the horizontal flanges 21 of such L-shaped members. Eachpair of abutting horizontal flanges 21 cotiperate to form a soifit. Thusthe forms for the joists are provided. Then the top pieces 30 are put inplace, to provide the form for the under face of the floor slab, andfinally the end pieces 44: are dro pad in place. This completes theforms. he reinforcement is now put in place. Then the concrete ispoured. When the concrete has hardened, the forms are dismantled. Forthis purpose, the framework 36 and 38 is taken down; the nails 24 arepulled out to permit the dropping of the connecting spacing members 23;then the L-shapcd members 20, which are now disconnected from other Lshaped members by reason of the removal of theconnecting spacing members23, are swung outward, using their upper edges as centers, and lowered;this frees the top pieces 30, which are'now dropped; and then the endpieces 44 are swung outward and d opped. This completes the freeing ofthe forms for the finished floor structure.

' The forms thus far described have been wooden forms, which areexceedingly convenicnt in manufacture and use, as they can be made onthe ground from ordinary lumber. However, the concrete-engaging partsmay also be formed of sheet metal, as illustrated in Fig. 4. Here theL-shaped members 20 have horizontal portions 21, each of which mateswith a similar horizontal portion of on adjacent L-shaped member to formthemby a joist form, the free edges of the horizontal portions 21'conveniently being provided with down-turned flanges 50 which projectinto notches 51, in the supporting members 35 and 37. The upper ed s ofthe upright portions of the L-shapedflji fibers 20' are turned outwardlyand theiif'd itpleced downwardly to form rabbets 52, arid in suchrabbets of adjacent L-shaped members 20' of adjacent pairs rest flatsheet metal top pieces 30'. The L-shapcd members at the outer edges ofthe rabbets 52 are provided with downwardly extending flanges 53, whichproject into notches 54 in uprights 55 nailed to and projecting upwardfrom the supporting members 35 and37, so as to provide spacing supportsfor the L-shaped members 20. This sheet metal structure is assembled byplacing the L-shaped members 20' on the supports 35 and 37 so that theflanges 50 and 53 project into the notches 51 and 54, and then layingthe top pieces 30' in place with their edges engaging the pockets 52. Itis dismantled by first removing the supporting members 35 and 37, andthen swinging the L-shaped members 20 around their upper edges todisengage them from the deposited concrete, and finally moving the toppistes 30 downward from the under faces of the floor slab.

Instead of providin the constructional units each composed 0 two of theL-shaped members 20 connected by spacing members 23 nailed to the cleats22, we may provide for properly spacing the L-shaped members withoutsuch nailing, thus facilitating assembling and dismantling. Such anarrangement is illustrated in Fi 6.- Thetshaped members 20 as in the otier instances rest on spaced supports 35 and 37, and on the upper edgesof these spaced supports are nailed cleats 60 properly spaced apart sothat the spaces between them are of just sufficient width to receive thelower edges of two mating L-shaped members with the horizontal portions21 thereof abutting, the ends of the cleats 60 preferably being upwardlybeveled so that the bearing between them. and the L-shaped members isonly at the bottoms of the 0 cats. Beside each clcat 60 there are alsofastened to the spaced supports and 3? an upright (31, corrcs 'iondingto the upright 55 in the sheet metal (-011- struction shown in Fig. 4,the upper edges of which uprights may wrve as supports for the toppieces 30, which are of the same construction as already described. Ifany additional supports are needed for these top pieces, they may beprovided by loose cross boards 62 resting on cleats 63, of properheight, which cleats are nailed to the outer faces of the L-shapcdmembers 20 at suitable points. The uprights 61 are preferably narrow-erat the bottom than the clear space between adjacent L-sliaped members 20for adjacent joists; so as to provide clearance to facilitateahseiubling and dismantling and their upper corners oi are notched andpro- Vided with upwardl extending metal tongues (35 overlapping suchnotches to proridc pockets for receiving horizontal metal trips 66carried by cleats 137 on the outer Vertical fares of the L--shapedmembers 20. The engagement of the strips 66 in the pockets formed by thenotches Bl and tongues 65 positions the upper edges of the L- shapedmembers 20, so that this in connee' tion with the cleats (H) lirlnlypositions such members throughout. By this construction the spacedsupports 35 and 37 and their supporting framework are erected, and thenthe L-shnped members '20 are dropped in place with their lower edgesbetween the cleats 00 and with the straps (it; in the porkets formed bythe notches (it and tongues 65. Then the cross boards (32 are put inplace. Then the top pier e 30 are laid in place on the upper edges ofthe uprights 61 and on the cross hearth c2. and the end members it (notshown in Fig. 6, but of the same construction as already doscribech) aredropped in place, and the structure is complete. ready for the pouringof the concrete. \Vben the concrete is hardened, the spaced supports 36and 37 together with the cleats 60 and uprights ii] are removed, with orwithout removing their supporting framework, which removal by reason ofthe character of the engagement is obtained witlr out interfering withthe other parts of the structures. Then the L-shaped llltll'lhflI'SI-l'areswung outward and lowered in the man' nor already desrribed, whichcan he done without requiring the rcinorel of any nails. Then the toppiercs 30 are lowered, and finally the end pieces are swung outward anddropped.

We claim as our invention:

1. A falsework for concrete floor slab eonstrnetions of the joist type,comprising a plurality of spaced supports, a plurality of combined beamand form members resting on said supports and spanning the spacesbetween them, each of said members comprising a longitudinal uprightportion and a longitudinal horizontal portion having support upon Ftllrlupright portion and projecting laterally from the lower edge thereofboth portions spanning spaces between said supports to constitute forinsfor the joists. and said members bein g alternately oppositely placedand mating in pairs at the projecting edges of said horizontal portions,the pairs of such members being spaced apart, a plurality of top piecesc0- operating with the upper edges of and having support upon theupright portions of adjata nt members of adjacent pairs and closing thespace between such pairs to constitute forms for the under surface ofthe slab, the nllllCOll hllllllUl'l'S being spaced apart by disl2\1ltt'materially greater than the height; of said upright portions so that thy are Ii1fllciently far apart that said members art as beams as well asiorms, and said members beingsulliciently rigid as brains tocarry theload of the superposed concrete, and }i:li:i5 connecting adjacentmembers of adjacent pairs to form roostructional units, said connectingspacers and the members with which they are associated being readilydetachahle from each other. 7

S2. A falscn'orlt for concrete floor -=l=il one etravtious of the joisttype, comps-i iug sup ports. a plurality of form liltlilin resting onsaid supports. said members in mg plzired in spaced pairs. a pluralityof top pic n cooperating with the upper (,(lgfie ol' :iu aeent membersof adjacent pairs and Llflmllllf the space between such pairs toconstitute forms for the under surface of the slab, 1 5 end pieces eachdetachalfily c operating o iih the ends of a top pi-u and of the :mlog-in members associated with such top jilw'z: to close the ends of thespaces therclivtuwn said end pieces interlocking u'ith liu' top piecesand the form members to hold the end pieces in place While permittingthe removal of the top pieces and the form nirruhers before the endpieces after the pouring of the concrete.

3. A falsework for concrete construction, comprising a plurality ofspaced supports, a plurality of members resting on and extendingtransversely to said supports, said members being L-shapcd in crosssection and alternately oppositely placed and mating in pairs at theprojecting edges of the horizontal portions of said Leliaped members,the pairs of L-shupcd members being spaced apart, a plurality of toppieces cooperating with the upper edges of the uprights of the adjacentL-shaped members of adjacent pairs and closing the space between suchpairs, the L-shaped members being sufficiently rigid so that they areself-supporting between said supports and ivill carry the superposedconcrete, and parts rigid with epaced supports for interlocking with andproperly positioning and spacing the pairs of L-shaped memhere.

4. A falsework for concrete floor slab constructions of the joist type,comprising a plurality of spaced supports, a plurality of combined beamand form members resting on said supports and spanning the Spacesbetween them, each of said members comprising a longitudinal uprightportion and a lon gitudinal horizontal portion having support upon saidupright portion and projecting laterally from the lower edge thereof,both placed and mating in pairs at the projecting edges of saidhorizontal portions, the pairs of such members being spaced apart, apinrality of top pieces cooperating with the ugper edges of and havingsupport upon t e upright portions of adjacent members of adjacent pairsand closi'g the space between such pairs to constitute forms for theunder surface of the slab, the spaced supports being spaced apart bydistances materially greater than the height of said upright portions sothat they are sufliciently far apart so that said members act as beamsas well as forms, and said members being sufficiently rigid as beams tocarry the load of the superposed concrete, and spacers releasablyattached to adjacent members of adjacent pairs for properly spacing suchpairs apart.

A falsework for concrete construction, comprising a plurality of spacedsupports, a plurality of members resting on and extend mg transverselyto said supports, said members being L-shaped in cross section andalternately oppositely placed and mating in pairsat the projecting edgesof the horizon tul portions of said L-shaped members, the pairs ofL-shaped members being spaced apart, a plurality of to piecescooperating with the up er edges 0 the uprights of the adj accnt L-siaped members of adjacent pairs and closing the space between such pairs,the L-shaped members that they are sel. supporting between said supportsand will carry the superposed concrete, and parts ri id with said spacedsupport for interlocking with and properly positioning and spacing thepairs of L-shaped members, said interlocking permitting said spacedsupports and spacing parts to be withdrawn from said L-shaped members torelease the latter for removal from against the concrete.

6. A falscwork for concrete construction, comprising a plurality ofspaced supports, a plurality of members resting on and extendingtransversely to said supports, said members being L-shaped in crosssection and alternately oppositely placed and mating in pairs at theprojecting edges of the horizontal portions of said L-shaped members,the

. pairs of L-shaped members being spaced apart, a plurality of topiecescoiiperating with the upper edges of tlie uprights of the adjacentL-shaped members of adjacent pairs and closing the space between suchpairs.

being sufficiently rigid so the L-shaped members being sufiicientlyrigid so that they are self-supporting between said supports andwillcarry the superposed concrete, and parts for interlock ing with andproperiy positioning and spacing the pairs of L-shaped members, said topieces removably resting on sand spacln parts.

7. A falsework for concrete construction, comprising a plurality ofspaced supports, a plurality of members resting on and extendingtransversely to said supports, said members being L-shaped in crosssection and alternately oppositely placed and mating in pairs at theprojecting ed es of the horizontal portions of said L-s aped members,the pairs of L-shaped members being spaced apart, a plurality of toieces cooperating with the upper edges of t-l ie uprights of the adjacent L-shaped members of ad acent pairs and closing the space betweensuch airs, the L-shaped members being sufliciently ,rigid so that theyare self-supporting between said supports and will carry the superposedconcrete, and parts rigid with spaced supports and properly positioningand spacing the pairs of .L-shaped members.

8. In combination in a concrete falsework, an inverted channe -shapedmember the sides of which are collapsible toward each other, and an endmember closing the end of said channel and abutting against the ends ofsaid channel-shaped member, between said end member and saidchannelshaped member providing draft ,whereby when the channel-shapedmember is covered with concrete its sides may be collapsed and themember withdrawn from the concrete while the end piece remains in place.

9. In combination in. a concrete falseworlt, an inverted channel-shapedmember, and an and member closing the end of said channel and abuttingagainst the ends of said chanl-shaped member, the junction between saidend member and said channel-shaped member providing draft permitting oneof such parts to be readily withdrawn from the concrete while the otherremains in place.

In witness whereof. we have hereunto set our hands at Indianapolis,Indialna, this 11th day of October, A. D. one thousand nine hundred andsixteen.

SAMUEL J. BRANSON. EDWARD C. STRATHMANN.

the junction

